from Gentry Estes of The Tennessean,

These Predators have been playing from behind seemingly all season, the kind of thing that happens when you’ve scored two first-period goals in nine games. They’ve started games slowly, and they’ve started this season slowly. The luxury of patience is dwindling rapidly.

After Monday night’s 5-2 defeat to the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Predators were next-to-last in the eight-team Central Division, only two points clear of the Detroit Red Wings. Three teams ahead of the Predators had only played six games. Another had only played seven. Not good.

But this really isn’t about the standings. Not yet, at least. The Predators’ 4-5 record isn’t worth bragging about, but it’s not horrific to the point of packing up hopes for an entire season.

It’s more the way this is happening that should trouble Smashville.

Because their Predators just don’t pass the eye test. There isn’t much they’re doing especially well on the ice, and there’s a list of things they aren’t doing well.

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